INTERNATIONAL. Some of the world’s leading travel retailers have committed to attending the inaugural Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo to be held on September 10-11. They include China Duty Free Group, Dubai Duty Free, King Power Group (HK), King Power International (Thailand), King Power Traveler, Ontario International Airport (California), Qatar Duty Free, and Shenzhen Duty Free with others set to be announced in coming days.
ARI CEO Ray Hernan also expressed “keen interest” in the event in September, saying it would be “timely and relevant”.
Additionally, two brand companies have already agreed to exhibit – SEVA Group, the fast-expanding travel retail distribution group and border shop retailer with operations in Panama, Sydney, Dubai and Croatia: and Glenfiddich-to-Hendrick’s independent brand owner William Grant & Sons.
Many other brands have contacted us today to find out more while South American duty free association ASUTIL has also taken up the offer of a complimentary promotional area (The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo will intensively promote the critical work, role and physical events of trade associations such as ACI, ASUTIL, APTRA, TFWA and others to help rejuvenate the sector).
As announced last Friday, travel retail’s first Virtual Expo will also embrace the 2020 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards, previously scheduled for 2-3 September in Istanbul. And it will integrate the inaugural Sightlines Airport Advertising & Communications Awards & Workshop.
Retailer and airport delegates from all over the world will be able to visit exhibitors; enter a private chat room with them; view new launches and existing products in brochure, video and pictorial form; and much more besides in a private business format. All exhibitors will receive a full ROI analytics and lead report detailing all attendees who visited their virtual stand. An auditorium will host the award ceremonies and conference presentations for each sector, all themed around the theme of ‘The Road to Recovery: How the new industry landscape needs to look”
Crucially, delegate attendance will be free to airports, retailers and other commercial service providers, and brands, thus ensuring that these key sectors of the travel retail community can get together without having to leave their desks.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin told The Moodie Davitt Report: “I was pleased to learn that The Moodie Davitt Report is planning to launch a Virtual Retail Expo in September. I think this idea is unique, and will help to unify the duty free industry.
“I look forward to it and advise that the Dubai Duty Free Management team including our Purchasing team will be in full (far off) attendance.”
“The free, virtual model means that a retailer, say, from Dunedin Airport in the far south of New Zealand or an executive from Anchorage Airport in Alaska, can attend without spending a single cent on flights, accommodation or meals in a highly time-efficient manner from the security of their own office space.” – Martin Moodie
China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen also told The Moodie Davitt Report via WeChat that he and his full team would attend.
King Power Group (HK) Managing Director and Chief Merchandising Officer of King Power International (Thailand) Antares Cheng commented, “It is a very nice idea. We will bring the whole Hong Kong and Thailand teams to ‘see you’ at the event.” King Power Group (Hong Kong) Group Chief Executive Officer Sunil Tuli added: “I will be bringing a team of at least five or six buyers with me.”
King Power Traveler President Rakhita Jayawardena, the first travel retailer to confirm attendance, said that the virtual and cost-free format was ideal for the hard-pressed inflight retail sector and said he would be participating along with “four or five of his team”.
Thabet Musleh, Vice President Operations of Qatar Duty Free, whose parent company Qatar Airways has performed so impressively during the crisis*, said, “I think it’s a brilliant idea. For FAB, for example, I can usually only afford to bring along two people, now I can bring the whole team.”
Ontario International Airport Chief Commercial OfficerDan Cappell said, “We will have a minimum of ten from my team with you at the event.”
About The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo
Several media titles have also signed as official Media Partners. They include Globuy, “the KOL of Chinese travel retail”, which has a monthly audience of 1 million views for its WeChat social media platform promoting new launches, product availability, promotions, and special offers. Globuy will work with The Moodie Davitt Report to ensure maximum brand visibility in China to Virtual Expo exhibitors.
Others are Lois Pasternak’s Travel Markets Insider, an invaluable and trusted information source for travel retail in the Americas; and Vane Media, Cristina Alcivar’s innovative North American media house which focuses on airport wellbeing services (from spas to therapy dogs) and will give particular coverage to exhibitors from the wellbeing space.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “We’re delighted with the early response to our inaugural Virtual Travel Retail Expo. As with any trade show, buyer participation is critical. With our event, attendance is free to airports, retailers and other commercial service providers, thus ensuring that these key sectors of the travel retail community can get together without having to leave their desks. This means that a retailer, say, from Dunedin Airport in the far south of New Zealand, or an executive from Anchorage Airport in Alaska, can attend without spending a single cent on flights, accommodation or meals in a highly time-efficient manner from the safety of their own office space.
“Given that unique model and the strong interest expressed by some of the world’s leading travel retailers, exhibitors can feel confident that their participation will be rewarded with strong global interest from buyers and senior management teams.”
The Moodie Davitt team is now ‘building’ the show, talking to potential exhibitors about their needs to ensure appropriate pricing, quality merchandising and a curated approach to each company’s products and positioning.
A full schedule, exhibition floorplan and programme are currently being finalised. In the meantime please contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to register your interest or for any inquiries.
*Note: Qatar Airways, which has performed so impressively during the crisis – actually stepping up flight activity in its mission to “get people home” as many other carriers have sharply reduced operations – has just announced an important boost to its loyalty programme, Privilege Club.
The airline said it will further honour the loyalty of its members by extending or reinstating their tier status for 12 months, for memberships due to expire before 31 January 2021. Members can retain their current tier benefits such as upgrades, Shop & Pay with Qmiles, extra baggage, lounge access, and more, for 12 months.
